Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in French Quarter

"Settle down in this 150-year-old courtyard with lush landscaping for a relaxing bite and a glass of wine (or three). The historic space boasts a romantic ambiance that not even a child in tow can completely ruin. (If the weather isn’t cooperating, the Carriage House offers a rustic alternative.)."

"Nice weather calls for alfresco dining at this cute courtyard, French Quarter restaurant. Share bites of slow-cooked spiced lamb shank and Atlantic salmon with fingerling potatoes and horseradish cream. And save room for doberge cake after!"

"It’s impossible to talk about coffee houses without mentioning beignets, a New Orleans tradition that’s paired with a café au lait. At Café Beignet, you can partake in this tasty tradition and enjoy the magic of the “hole-less donut,” and sip on a classic espresso beverage. They also have chicory coffee at Café Beignet, another timeless NOLA tradition."

"There’s outdoor seating available for you to enjoy the music and it’s connected to Café Beignet (the BEST beignets), if you’d like a snack along with your musical enjoyment."

"This worldly café serves cuisine from Southeast Asia, West Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Vegan delights include the Broken Noodle Salad and the Caribbean Banana Cake."

"For delicious, healthy food with a Brazilian twist, head to Carmo. Their menu is packed with yummy salads, appetizer, entrees, and desserts. I love their namesake Carmo Salad."

"Just a short walk away (essentially on the opposite side of Jackson Square as the St. Louis Cathedral) sits the famous Cafe du Monde, home to French-style beignets (fried doughnuts topped with a literal inch of powdered sugar) and a cafe au lait. The menu is very small–beignets are the only food that they serve, though there are a few other drinks on the menu–and very reasonably priced, with a plate of three beignets and a drink coming out to $6.00 USD even (cash only, though there’s an ATM hidden in a tourism office across the street) as of the time of writing."

"From the Visitor Center, we walked just a few blocks to Jackson Square. Historically, Jackson Square is important as it was the site where Louisiana was made a US territory following the Louisiana Purchase. Today, it is a picturesque park with Saint Louis Cathedral providing a nice backdrop to President Andrew Jackson’s statue."

"(Don’t worry you’ll be going to Cafe du Monde during your 3 days in New Orleans too!) Stand in line at Cafe Beignet and order your powdered sugary french donut goodness with a coffee. The local choice is always getting a cafe au lait, but we both prefer our coffee black."

"Famous for its doberge cakes since 1949, Gambino’s Bakery ships cakes (and king cakes during Carnival season) all over the map. Order a half and half (lemon and chocolate) or opt for a chocolate peanut butter cake, or maybe a coconut cream. The designer cakes are swank."

"4821 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 885-7500; www.gambinos.com. Lemon and chocolate doberge cakes feature six layers of buttermilk cake, buttercream filling and fondant icing."

"In addition to the history behind the name — which we discussed earlier — this French Quarter coffeehouse has been a favorite of many since they opened, including Emily Klein Morris. She loves the energy and vibe in the shop, and vouches for their “perfect almond milk lattes.” She said the espresso is perfectly smooth with no bitter aftertaste, and that “they’ve mastered the challenging task of frothing the almond milk without oversteaming it."

"With a row of transom-topped double doors that are often thrown open to catch a breeze, this lower Decatur Street hotspot straddles the line between cozy coffee shop and sidewalk cafe. Highlights include stained-glass pendant lights, exposed brick, and a showstopper of a wooden bar where both caffeinated and boozy drinks are served. View this post on Instagram"

"(1241 Decatur St.) We also recommend this airy coffeehouse with comfortable sidewalk seating, popular with the locals. It has a full bar and a big breakfast menu, plus small plates. Its second location, 308 Decatur St., features a smaller menu of breakfast sandwiches and quiches, all of which will go easy on your budget."

"Make any special occasion sweeter and sophisticated with Sucré New Orleans gourmet cakes, chocolates, and macarons!. Stop by Salon Restaurant for breakfast or lunch to try out their flavorful and varied tea service. Or you can enjoy a wide selection of sweet and savory food, from chicken waffles and mac ‘n’ cheese to chocolates, macaroons, and eclairs."

"622 Conti St., second floor, (504) 267-7098; www.restaurantsalon.com. Chicken poutine features fried chicken over french fries with a fried egg, Gruyere cheese, salsa and veloute. Reservations accepted."

"A quintessential New Orleans neighborhood spot on the corner of Panola Street and Burdette Street, Riccobono's Panola Street Café is located in the heart of Uptown and is well loved by locals and visitors alike. Food-lovers flock to this neighborhood café to tuck into classics like Crab Cakes Benedict, a host of specialty three-egg omelets with various fillings, Belgian waffles, huge stacks of pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches. Signature dishes include liver and onions and hearty breakfast plates of bacon, eggs, country ham, sausage patties, fried green tomatoes, hash browns, grits, English muffins, and toast."

"Riccobono’s Panola Street Café is known for serving some of the best breakfasts in the city. Guests can enjoy eggs benedict, crab cakes benedict, stacks of pancakes, and omelets in the heart of New Orleans. Because of the great plates, locals and tourists crowd the café."

"A Sausalito omelet includes sauteed spinach, mushrooms, green onions, garlic and mozzarella cheese and is served with grits or potatoes, toast or biscuit."

"This Jefferson Parish favorite has a bunch of locations, all of which seem to have that proto-diner essence down pat. The Kenner location is open 24 hours, meaning even is she's not ya mama, Dot can in fact make you "feel at home" any time of day. The blue plate specials include a country fried steak and a catfish plate, neither of which will set you back $10."

"Dot’s Diner is a 24/7 Diner that prides itself on serving home-cooked meals, always made fresh. Established in 1996, Dot’s has now grown to operating 4 locations in Louisiana. Their buttermilk pancakes are fluffy, slightly savory and always fresh."

"Gert Town ramen destination Kin paused during the pandemic — it’s a small space, and chef Hieu Than’s meticulously-built bowls of ramen aren’t easy to translate to takeout. In March, however, Than launched ramen kits, and built outdoor seating outside of the small Washington Avenue building. The kits come with perfectly cooked proteins (glazed pork belly, chicken paitan) vacuum-sealed, broth, fresh ramen noodles, and vegetable toppings, packaged intricately and accompanied by instructions."

"Kin has gained a lot of traction for the decadent ramen bowls and creative dumplings; in fact, they were nominated for a 2018 James Beard award. Owner, Hieu Than, wanted a small, yet focused menu. It boosts French and Asian flavors in a perfect combination."

"Located at 4600 Washington Ave. in Gert Town, the Japanese spot is the highest rated Japanese restaurant in New Orleans, boasting 4.5 stars out of 288 reviews on Yelp."

"It’s also an excellent place to people watch and where a number of New Orleans’ historical landmarks like The St Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytère are located (with Preservation Hall and The Historic New Orleans Collection nearby). Tons of artists, musicians, and fortune tellers hang out in Jackson Square and in the spirit of disclosure, I spent most of my time here people-watching and eating beignets. However, if you want to be a little more cultured than I was, visit one or several of the above-mentioned landmarks for even more NOLA history."

"The Historic New Orleans Collection is set on a handsome campus in the heart of the French Quarter. Some of the 10 buildings on the property date back to the late 18th-century; archaeological digs have uncovered remnants of barracks that date as far back at 1720. Focusing on the history and culture of New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf South, the collection highlights subjects the War of 1812, Tennessee Williams, and jazz."

"18th century home of Jean Francois Merieult|© Marla Holden / Alamy. General L. Kemper Williams and Leila Moore Williams founded the Historic New Orleans Collection to showcase their various Louisiana artefacts, with the aim to preserve local history. Several historic buildings stand near the institution, with each housing more than three centuries-worth of items."

"A Victorian-style mansion with old south design and distinct luxurious charm, it is now used for weddings, as a museum, and also to host frog farm exhibits. With so many things under its belt, it’s hard to imagine that the House of Broel isn’t among the main attractions of New Orleans. The house is named after Bonnie Broel, an ordained minister, a Polish Countess, and the Dollhouse Museum curator."

"House of Broel is an opulent 19th century mansion located in one of New Orleans’ most picturesque neighborhoods, the Garden District. Owner Bonnie Broel has turned her home into an in-demand wedding destination that offers brides and grooms some of the best Southern charm that New Orleans has to offer. For casual visitors, House of Broel offers an off-the-beaten-path gem: a doll museum."

"Louisiana's Civil War Museum, formerly known as the Confederate Museum, is one of the largest repositories of Confederacy-related artifacts and memorabilia in the United States. Housed in a stone Romanesque-style building, this is the oldest museum in Louisiana. The Confederate Memorial Hall Museum opened to the public in 1891 and today houses the second largest Civil War collection in the world."

"Confederate Memorial Hall opened in 1891, making it the oldest collection of Confederate memorabilia in the US. It started after resident Frank T. Howard wrote a letter to the Louisiana Historical Association requesting acknowledgement of the Civil War’s survivors and victims. Here, you’ll embark on a journey through the military history and heritage of the South."

"What kind of ammunition and instruments did they use against one another?. The Confederate Memorial Hall commemorates the American Civil War by keeping a preserved exhibition of all the materials involved. Here you will get a chance to learn about all of the battles, trials, and about each person that played a vital role in the Civil War."

"New Orleanians love Five Happiness, a sprawling eatery on Carrollton since 1979. Named for the Chinese tradition of five kinds of happiness: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and peaceful death, Five Happiness adds a full belly to the list. The crispy whole fish with black bean sauce is a winner, ditto the Peking duck, which comes with ten thin crepes for bundling."

"New Orleans has long had a bounty of authentic Vietnamese restaurants, thanks to its vibrant population of Southeast Asian immigrants. But for a long time, you had to cross the river to the West Bank or head to New Orleans East for the good stuff, a bit of a trek if you're visiting without a car. With the recent opening of 9 Roses in the French Quarter, all that has changed."

"620 Conti St., (504) 324-9450; 1100 Stephens St., Gretna, (504) 366-7665; www.ninerosesrestaurant.com. Flank steak, meatballs and vermicelli fill pho served with a basket of bean sprouts, basil and cilantro. Reservations accepted."